If you're looking for a dessert that's both luxurious and nutritious, try the magnificently healthy Italian Apple Olive Oil Cake. These delicious exquisite pieces offer the health-conscious dessert lover the ideal balance by combining the rich, moist texture of classic Italian cakes with the nutritional richness of apples and olive oil.
Let us explore the reasons for this cake's greatness and the ease with which it may be prepared at home. Make your cake with our premium olive oil—perfect for healthy, delicious recipes. Click to buy now!
Why Choose an Olive Oil Cake with Apples from Italy?
Here, we discuss all the different reasons we have for choosing apple cake.
Ingredients High in Nutrients
Apples are rich in fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants, apples give the cake a naturally sweet and moist texture without adding a lot of extra sugar or fat.
Olive Oil
Known for its heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, olive oil improves the texture of the cake while also adding vital ingredients that promote general well-being.
Less Sugar
This recipe relies on the natural sweetness of apples and a small amount of honey or maple syrup, using very little added sugar. Compared to regular cakes, this makes it a lower-calorie and more diabetic-friendly option.
Complete Grains
By replacing whole wheat flour with all-purpose flour, you may increase the fiber content. This improves digestion and prolongs feeling full.
Versatile and Simple to Make
This recipe's simplicity makes it easy to prepare quickly, and its adaptability makes it suitable for a variety of dietary requirements, such as vegan or dairy-free versions.
The recipe
Ingredients:
- Two large apples (Honeycrisp or Granny Smith work best), cored, peeled, and thinly sliced
- one and a half cups of flour made from whole wheat
- Half a cup of extra virgin olive oil
- Half a cup of maple syrup or honey
- Three large eggs (vegan option: flax eggs)
- One tsp vanilla essence
- One tsp baking powder
- One-half tsp baking soda
- one tsp finely ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg, ground
- A small amount of salt
- One lemon's zest, optional for added flavor
- Powdered sugar (optional) for sprinkling
How to Prepare Olive Oil Cake with Apples in Italy?
I prefer to use sliced apples on top of the cake and chopped apples in the batter for my apple cakes. You can even use entirely sliced apples if you'd like. After you make this cake once, I think you'll agree that its simplicity is what makes it so beautiful. It should only take you around 15 minutes to put together.
That's how you do well:
- Turn the oven on to 350°F. Set aside a 9-inch (26 cm) springform pan that has been buttered and floured. If you do not have a springform pan, you may use a deep cake pan just be sure to line it with the parchment paper or give it a good coating of oil.
- The dice, peel, and core two apples. Slicing the third apple thinly, arrange the apples in different bowls. After adding a lemon juice drizzle to each apple, quickly stir them. Put up.
- Beat the eggs and sugar together until they are creamy and pale yellow, either in the bowl of a stand mixer or with a hand mixer. It'll take four to five minutes to complete. Drizzle in the ricotta and olive oil gradually. Add the flour mixture and mix for only a few seconds, just until mixed, with the mixer running on very low.
- Fold in the diced apples and lemon juice using a spatula. After scraping the batter into the prepared pan, level the top surface evenly.
- Place the sliced apples on top in any pattern you choose, or in a circle like I did.
- A toothpick placed in the center should come out clean after the cake has baked for 55 to 65 minutes, or until it is golden.
- After taking the cake out of the oven, let it cool in the pan for ten minutes. After that, take it out of the cake pan and let it cool fully on a wire rack before dusting it with powdered sugar.
Can I Use Olive Oil in Apple Cake?
Yes, you may use olive oil in the cake, and there are several benefits to doing so. Olive oil's rich, fruity flavor and many health advantages make it a great alternative to butter or other oils in baking.
It is a heart-healthy choice because of its high monounsaturated fat content that lowers bad cholesterol and lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Furthermore, olive oil has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities that might improve general health. When added to cakes olive oil creates a soft moist crumb that improves texture and prolongs cake freshness.
Is olive oil too strong for a cake?
Because olive oil has a unique flavor character that some people find aggressive or overpowering in comparison to more neutral oils like vegetable or canola oil, using it in cakes can raise concerns from certain individuals. But when olive oil is utilized right, it can improve the taste and texture of some cakes like this Italian Apple Olive Oil Cake.
Making the proper olive oil choice and utilizing the appropriate amount is important. Rather than going for a strong or peppery extra virgin olive oil, go for something more reserved that will add a gentle taste that will enhance the other ingredients without overpowering them.
It's also important to avoid using too much olive oil in the recipe because too much of it can make the cake turn out greasy or oily. You can make a very moist and delectable cake without the oiliness or predominant taste by using a reasonable amount of olive oil and balancing it with other ingredients.
What kind of olive oil do you use for olive oil cake?
It is important to choose an extra virgin olive oil that is tasty and of good quality for an olive oil cake. Extra virgin olive oil preserves its unique flavor profile, natural antioxidants, and vitamins by coming from the first cold pressing of olives.
These ingredients improve the cake's taste and are also beneficial to health. Select olive oils that bear the labels "cold-pressed" or "cold-extracted," as these methods maintain the oil's nutritional value and taste.
Choose an olive oil whose flavor composition balances with the other ingredients because it will be the one that enters the completed cake. Most recipes benefit from the subtle richness of a fruity or delicately aromatic extra virgin olive oil, which doesn't dominate the cake's sweetness.
To get the right taste and texture in your Italian Apple Olive Oil Cake, stay away from refined or light olive oils. Extra virgin olive oil has a stronger flavor and offers more nutritional value.
Explore the Different Tips for This Cake with Olive Oil Recipes
Three main pointers for making this cake:
- This specific olive oil cake will have a thick batter. It's intended to be, we assure you. Avoid the temptation to loosen it with more water or anything else.
- Which apples are best for this recipe and how should they be cut? We used gala apples this time, but you may use any other type of apple you like for baking, including Pink Lady or Honey Crisp. For a more nuanced flavor, it's even better if you use a couple of different varieties of apples. For instance, you may add Granny Smith apples, which have a tarter, somewhat acidic flavor, instead of merely gala apples.
- Make use of Extra Virgin Olive Oil of High Quality. This is an olive oil cake, as the name suggests, and you should taste some olive oil. The extra virgin olive oil's slightly savory sense will add an appealing flavor depth but don't worry, it won't be overwhelming.
Final Thoughts
Whether it's a family get-together, a special celebration, or just a relaxing night in, this Italian Apple Olive Oil Cake is ideal for every event. For added pleasure, serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of Greek yogurt.
This cake demonstrates that flavor and health don't have to be mutually exclusive with its rich flavor and moist texture.
To sum up, the Italian Apple Olive Oil Cake blends classic Italian baking methods with wholesome ingredients to create a delicious and healthier dessert choice.
This dish is a go-to for anyone who wants to enjoy a sweet treat without feeling guilty because of how easy and versatile it is to prepare. So put on your apron and start baking; you're going to have a deliciously nutritious time!